NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Comet Interceptor Mission

Launch Time
NET 2029

Rocket

Ariane 62
Image Credit: Arianespace
Arianespace
Status: Active
Price: $88.0 million
Liftoff Thrust: 8,370 kN
Payload to LEO: 10,350 kg
Payload to GTO: 4,500 kg
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 2
Rocket Height: 62.0 m
Fairing Diameter: 5.4 m
Fairing Height: 20.0 m

Mission Details

Comet Interceptor

The Comet Interceptor is a robotic spacecraft mission led by the European Space Agency (ESA) planned for a 2028 launch. The spacecraft will be "parked" at the Sun-Earth L2 point and wait for up to three years for a long-period comet to fly by at a reachable distance.

The Principal Investigator is Geraint Jones, from the Mullard Space Science Laboratory in the United Kingdom. The maximum cost of the spacecraft is set at €150M, excluding science instruments and launch services.

Payloads: 3
Total Mass: 850.0 kg
Sun–Earth L2

Location

ELA-4, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France